Tess Daly is to star in a new kids comedy about the highs and lows of talent competitions and the subsequent fame they bring.
Tess Daly is to show off her acting skills in new CBBC comedy drama Almost Never.
The Strictly host will play the presenter of fictional talent competition The Spotlight, which sees boy band The Wonderland fiercely compete against rival girl band Girls Here First.
Almost Never follows The Wonderland as the brief spell of fame they enjoyed on the talent show starts to fade.
It charts their comedic ups and downs as they try to grow their fan base and find the best songs to record. As the boys try to make it in the music business, they also have to juggle home life, school and relationships alongside their dreams of pop stardom.
The star-studded cast also includes Kimberly Wyatt as ambitious and unscrupulous manager of the girl band, Sasha Small.
Emily Atack (The Inbetweeners and currently starring in I’m a Celebrity) plays Meg, mum to Oakley and Harry from The Wonderland, while Colin Hoult (Murder in Successville) plays their dad. Nate’s mum is played by Zina Badran (A Very English Scandal) and his sister Molly by Simran Rakar.
Michelle Gayle (EastEnders) takes the role of Coleen, a record company manager. Also appearing in a cameo role is Emily’s fellow I’m A Celebrity campmate, Fleur East.
The Wonderland are played by Oakley Orchard, Harry Still and Nathaniel Dass. Girls Here First are Mya-Lecia Naylor, Miriam Nyarko, Lola Moxom and Lilly Stanion.
Almost Never is due to broadcast on CBBC in the new year. The series is produced by Saltbeef TV’s Jeremy Salsby creator of Sorry I’ve Got No Head and Friday Download.
